There's nothing like family secrets, drafty old manor houses, and slowly crumbling wealth to set a certain scene, and Critchley does it well here. The reader sees everything a bit from the outside through Gillian, as she too is an outsider in the Claybournes' world, and while not a completely original perspective, it's the right tone for this novel. While some of Gillian's actions will be hard to swallow, she *is* a teenager growing up in a world where what a girl/woman could be was still very limited. Her naïveté can be to blame for many of her actions throughout the book, and the way it affects another major character will be difficult to read for some folks, but I respect the author for unflinchingly portraying a character who chooses things that have real consequences, even if we as readers wish for something different.

It was an atmospheric read, and the characters all felt fleshed out and vibrant. Definitely a solid choice for anyone into family sagas, secrets, and what fitting in can truly mean.

I did not read much of the synopsis before diving right in. I thought this would be a spooky/witchy read and it definitely wasn't. But it did keep me on my toes and I was totally invested in the sisters and Gilly. It kept me guessing right until the end, with twists at every turn.

I think this is a solid 3, it isn't bad not good, I felt little to no connection with the characters sadly. I did like the concept of Violet having OCD and her "undoings". Thank you netgalley for letting me read this ARC.

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley is a gripping historical psychological suspense that I’d rate six out of five if I could.

From the first page to the last, I was captivated by the twists and revelations woven into this story. Though I found myself disliking nearly every character—not because of how they were written but because of the despicable choices they made or tolerated—Critchley’s portrayal of their flaws felt hauntingly realistic.

Set against the oppressive etiquette and societal norms of the 1930s, especially for women, this novel dives into the disturbing complexities of wealth, family expectations, and rigid social rules.

The historical backdrop feels authentic, and the characters and plot are developed with skill, making this a medium-paced but unputdownable read.

In 1938, Gillian Larkin starts at a private school and quickly befriends her roommate, Violet Claybourne. With little connection to her own family, she eagerly accepts Violet’s invitation to spend the Christmas holiday at her home, Thornleigh Hall. Though the estate is in disrepair, Gilly is enchanted by Violet’s sisters and their family. She soaks up any attention they give her, eager to earn their approval.

However, after a shocking accident, Gilly begins to see that the Claybourne sisters aren’t as kind or loving as they appear. What follows changes not only her life but Violet’s as well. At its core, the story is about belonging. Gilly’s desperation to fit in with the Claybournes stems from the emptiness left by her own family. The secrets, family drama, and betrayal were compelling, and I was invested in finding out what would happen to Gilly, Violet, and her sisters. There’s a darkness to the story that powerfully conveys the unfairness of life.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

This was a good books! The plot had a good pace and the characters grow on you! 1930s setting with a good cast of characters! A wonderful Debut novel for Emily Critchley!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

What a twisted story, haunting story.


1938. Gillian Larking, lonely and away at boarding school, is used to going unnoticed. But then she meets Violet Claybourne, her vibrant roommate who takes Gilly under her wing. Violet is unlike anyone Gilly has ever met, and she regales Gilly with tales of her grand family estate and her two elegant sisters. Gilly is soon entranced by stories of the Claybournes, so when Violet invites Gilly to meet her family at Thornleigh Hall, she can't believe her luck.

But Gilly soon finds that behind the grand façade of Thornleigh Hall, darkness lurks.

Dazzled by the crumbling manor and Violet's enigmatic sisters, Gilly settles into the estate. But when a horrible accident strikes on the grounds, she is ensnared in a web of the sisters' making, forced to make a choice that will change the course of her life forever. Because the Claybournes girls know how to keep secrets, even at the cost of one of their own.

3 out of 5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this book! I’ve never read anything like it before. How sad how people were treated during this time. Thank you for sharing this.

What a twisted bunch of characters. It was hard to have sympathy for any of them, except the title character of Violet, because they were all so self-involved without any care for how their actions affected those around them. The story was interesting and I appreciated the few little twists that were thrown in towards the end. It was not the type of book I couldn't put down but it was entertaining and held my attention.

Gillian has never felt like she belongs. When she gets a new roommate at her very proper(and cold) boarding school, she feels like she finally has a friend. Violet Claybourne has two sisters and comes from a family of old money. When Violet invites Gillian to come home with her for the Christmas holiday, Gillian is thrilled. Finally, she will spend time with a real family.
Thornleigh Hall is not what Gillian expected. It is rundown, and Violet’s parents are shall we say odd. Violet’s sisters, Emmeline and Laura are everything she has dreamed of having. But they barely tolerate Violet. Gillian will soon make a choice that changes all their lives, forever.
Most of the story is set in 1938, though after the holidays end, we do spend time with Gillian in the future. I will be honest, I was yelling at Gillian, so many times to make different choices. Then I would remember not only her age, but how vastly different life was in 1938. I felt so sorry for how many people were hurt because of one tragic accident. I could not stop reading though, hoping somehow that this sad tale would have a happy conclusion.

3.5 stars.

The good stuff first: I really enjoyed the author's writing in this. It was my first introduction to Emily Critchley, and I liked her prose and storytelling style throughout the book. She sets the English 1930s scene very well. The pacing of how the story unfolds will be wonderful for those who love a slow-burn mystery, and the gothic tones mixed with beautifully descriptive scenes (both the actual landscape/buildings and the characters) really make for a good read.
I am all for an immersive read, and the writing is what gets me there. I love good descriptions to help me visualize the story in my own head, and The Undoing of Violet Claybourne was easy to picture.

What I wasn't fond of: Yes, the characters in here had some pretty good character development and we got to know a lot of thoughts/feelings behind things without just seeing mindless action, which I LOVE. But I did not like any one character aside from Violet 🤣 I found that I felt too much for this girl and all that she has been through in her life, and wanted everyone who did her wrong to meet an untimely demise - including Gillian!!! Like, how on earth can you become friends with this girl, go to her family home for Christmas, and then do what you did?! Oh, my heart hurt for Violet in more than one spot of this book. I just wanted to reach into the book and whisk her young self away from everyone and everything.

Don't get me wrong, my lack of liking for most of the characters doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this because I really did. Once I hit the 40-50% mark, I got really sucked in could NOT put this down and flew through it, in fact! I think there will be a lot of folks who will adore this book once they get their hands on it.

This novel started out great (gothic setting, odd family) but started to slow down meander in the middle portion of the novel. With some further editing this could be greatly improved.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212806852

This book was very interesting and lovely to read. Mysterious, haunting, bewitching. I really enjoyed it and was on the edge of my seat the whole time!

Summary: Gillian is a quiet young girl at an English boarding school in 1938. She doesn’t have much family and leads a lonely life. Then vivacious Violet Claybourne arrives and is assigned to be Gillian’s roommate. Violet is the most unique character that Gillian has ever met and together they have daily adventures in which Gillian is never lonely or bored. When Christmas arrives Gillian is dreading the visit to her aunt’s home, so Violet extends the invitation to spend Christmas at Thornleigh Hall and Gillian gratefully accepts. Little do they know that this holiday season will change their lives forever. Gillian travels to Thornleigh, meets Violet’s family and gets to know the huge estate. One day, a terrible accident takes place on the estate grounds while the adults are all out. Gillian is trapped in a web of lies to cover up the true story and learns how far the Claybournes will go to protect themselves.

Thoughts: This beautiful and sad story pulled me into the world of pre-WWII England. It is a worn and dog-eared snapshot of a dead era – with grand country houses, grounds and servants. The master of the house holds shooting parties and the family “dresses” for dinner. On the surface, everything is perfect for the Claybourne family, but underneath there are many, many secrets. There is infidelity, sexual abuse, family discord, lies, petty thievery, mental illness and much worse yet to come. Gillian wants so desperately to become a part of this gilded family and to belong somewhere, that she is willing to do or say anything to be accepted. But Gillian doesn’t understand the rules of how this family operates and she is out of her depth. The characters are skillfully drawn and the twists are breathtaking. A wonderful novel which will stay with me for a long time.

Emily Critchley did a great job at immersing the reader in the 30s time period. Gilly is an interesting character and I thoroughly enjoyed reading through her journey. This was a great, enchanting read.

In the present, Gillian Larking receives a letter from a person claiming to be related to someone she used to know. In 1938, Gillian Larking is assigned a new roommate, Violet Claybourne. The two become friends, and Violet seems to be adventurous and brave while Gillian appears to be more cautious. When the Christmas holiday approaches, Violet invites Gilly to come and spend the time at Thornleigh Hall and Gilly can't believe she will get to meet the amazing sisters that Violet speaks about so often. What at first seems like a perfect holiday, quickly turns into something far more sinister. Gilly is surprised at how dilapidated Thornleigh is and while on the surface Violet's sisters, Emmeline and Laura, seem to be glamourous and sophisticated, Gilly soon sees that this is a facade. When a tragedy happens, Gilly is caught between her friendship with Violet and her desire to be accepted by Emmeline and Laura who will sacrifice anything to keep the family secrets. When the novel returns to the present, the secrets from that long ago Christmas come back with a vengeance and Gilly once again has to make a choice to protect the Claybourne secrets.

I have never read this author before but Critchely's prose paints a vivid picture of 1930s England, immersing readers in a world of rigid class structures.

The story developed slowly in some places but ultimately it was worth it to see the characters and plot develop. I have never understood how parents can stomach sending their kids to boarding schools. It seems so heartbreaking.

This story is evocative and beautifully done.

This was a good and enchanting read. I really enjoyed all of the characters and settings. One could absolutely get lost in this book.